Paper-folding machine



July 29," 1930.

J. MENTGES' PAPER FOLDING MACHINE July 29, 193,0.

J. MENTGEQ PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed "Nov. 8 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR,

Patented July 29, 1930 NITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE J'omv MENTGES, or! SIDNEY, onro, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE nssremmn'rs, T nnx'rnn ronnnn COMPANY, on NEW YORK,

N. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK rAPEn-roLnme MACHINE Application filed November 8, 1926. Serial No. 146,936.

- The presentinvention is an improvement fin folding mechanisms. Gerta1 n ob ects of the 1nvent1on are to provide a; compact construction comprlsing a novel combination and arrangement of'loop folders and a vknife folder,for making a plurality. of folds, either. in news or book imposit on, and to provide such a construe tioni'n WhlCh noiparts areremoved or added 1'0 in changing the number or arrangement of folds to be made."

A further object of the invention is to provide a single packer adapted to receive the folded sheets thathave been operated on by 'the knife folder alone,,or by the knife folder and one or more of the loop folders.

These objects, among others, aresecured by said novel arrangement of loop and knife folding mechanisms, in combination with deflectmgmechanisms which selectively diroot 'the sheets to the desired folding mechanism or mechanisms.

With respect to the utilization of a single packer. for receiving the sheets whichhave been operated onby the knife folder alone, or the knife folder and a succeeding folding mechanism, the object is referably attained by positioning of loop olding mechanisms for im arting news or'book imposition benea'thit e kmfe folder, preferably with the packer symmetrically positioned with respect to said loop folding mechanisms. 7

, Ishafll now 'describe the structure and operation of my invention, with the assistance of the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, 1 v

Fig.1 is'aplan view of my machine, with the feed tiableiand a few other parts removed,

. to expose important parts situated below the table, I I

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of themacliine, showing the food table and'parts omitted in Fig, 3' isanend elevation; of the machine looking from the right of Figs. 1 and 2. 111 thisg-fi refone of the packing devices is omitte i w,

Fi s. ,4, 5' and 6 are .wh i may be e p y views of the deflector Figs. 7"a'1'1'd 8 "show twelve [pages folded news imposition and book imposition, respectively.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machme preferably contains five folding mechanisms, indicated generally by letters A, B, C, D and E, though-for some purposes a greater or less number may be employed. Mechanism A is a loop folder having plates This grid carries rods 28 on which a stop 29 is adjustably secured. At the mouth of the grid, three rollers 30, 31-and 32 are mounted, and connected by si litable pinions (not shown)" to -rotate them in unison in directions indicated by arrows. Mechanisms B, D and E are preferably similar to mechanism- A, except that-the grid plates 25 and 2? lie in a horizontal instead of an oblique p ane. l

Mechanism C is a knife folder and comprises folding'rollers 40 and 41', connected by gears (not shown) to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. A plurality of belts or-tapes 42 carry sheets from mechanism A to a stop 43.. Thesebelts run on pulleys 44 and are driven by suitable means not shown. A knife 45 is mounted on a rockerarm 46, and at suitable intervals the I the rolls 40 and 41.

Just below the bite of rolls 31 and 32 (see Fig. 2) a deflector, indicated generally by the numeral 50, is mounted on trunnlons 51 and 52. See also Figs. 4,5 and 6. This deflector ma if desired, be of the type illustrated and claimed in my application Serial No. 30,149, filed May 14, 1925, which consists of two plates or strips, 53 and 54,,"w1th a space 55 between them. ,Rlgidly mounted on the trunnion 52 is an arm 56, which carries a stud 57 at its free end. Thisarm may be rocked to any of three positions, and then by an endwise movement ofithe .whole deflectorstructure the stud 57 is inserted 1n one of three holes 58 in the frame of the maclnne, thereby holding the deflector in the deslred vor grids 25 'and26, secured togetherwith a position. The stud is yieldingly held .in the ole 58 by a compression spring 59, surrounding the trunnion 52 and confined between. the end of the deflector and the frame of the odically by any suitable means 61, shown in Fig. 2, this device being operated in timed relation with the knife of the folding mechanism C, by means not shown.

It is not necessary to describe the operation of the folding mechanism A as this is well understood. It suflices to say that sheets enter at the bite of rolls 30-31 and emerge folded from betweenrolls 31-32. In Fig. 2 the deflector50 is shown infull lines in such position that as sheets emerge from the rolls 31-32 they are deflected to the right onto the belts 42, whereby they are carried to the stop 43, which in Fig. 2 is indicated by dotted lines. The knife then descends and tucks the sheet into the biteof rolls 40-41, thus imparting a fold to them at a right angle to the fold made by mechanism A. Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the deflector 5O occupies one oblique position, and as the sheets emerge from the rolls 40-41 they are deflected to the right into the mechanism E, where they receive a fold parallel 'to the fold received in mechanism C- If the deflector is moved to its other oblique position indicated I in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the sheets will be v in Fig.3, the sheets pass between 'plates 53,

deflected to the mechanism D instead of 'to E. In either case, the sheets are delivered to the packer. If the deflector is moved to its central vertical position indicated in dotted lines 54 and drop directly from mechanism to the packer.

The packer preferably compzrises abase 70 on which two vertical walls 1-71 are adjustably mounted. Each wall carries two cleats 7 2-72, between which the ends of the erably folded'sheets are confined until the sheets are pushed past the left hand cleat b Y the recipr'ocating pusher 73. Deflectors 4-7 4 carried by the walls 71 serve to deflect the sheets into the space between cleats 72-72, as they emerge from the folding mechanism, and

while they are still under the control of fold-.

ing mechanism D or E. This packer is prefv of the type illustrated and claimed in my application Serial No. 146,935 filed November 8, 1926. If the deflector 50 be turned to its intermediate or vertical sition, sheets drop through the deflector, t at is, between the feed table.

the plates 53 and 54, and between the sta tionary deflector. plates 74-7 4, into the packer, mechanisms D and E remaining idle. A similar packer is employed to receive folded sheets from mechanisms A'and B, as hereinafter described. i 5

Whether the fold is to be made in mechanism D or E, is determined by whether news or book imposition is desired. Fig. 7 shows an example of news imposition, and it will be seen that the sheet is folded with" the head joutside. Fig. 8 shows an example of book imposition, the head being folded inside, both forms being largely used in practice, and each filling a particular want.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the deflector 50 below the folding mechanism A may be rocked from its full line angular position to the dotted line angular position, and sheets will then be deflected tomechanism B instead of to mecha: nism'C. In that case a sheet will receive a fold parallel to that imparted in mechanism A, instead of this fold being at a right angle to the preceding fold, and the folded sheet will be delivered from mechanism B to the packer adjacent thereto. When the deflector is in its central or vertical dotted line pos1- tion sheets'pass' between the plates 53 and 54 and drop directly from mechanism A to the packer.

By reference to the accompanying draw ings it will be observed that the feed table- I is arranged above the knife folder C and foldarrangement makes it possible to place the whole machine, comprising in this case five folding mechanisms, within the space required for folding mechanisms A and B and By positioning mechanism O adjacent to mechanism B and providing a deflector for directing papersto one or the other at will, I am enabled to make a second fold either parallel or at a right angle to the fold imparted by mechanism A. By this construction I am also able to deliver folded sheets to one of two packers, whether these sheets emerge from mechanism A, B, C, D 'orE. v

Similar advantages of simplicity and compactness may beattained by this type of construction', whether mechanism D and -E are both loopers, both-knife folders, or one looper and one knife folder.

It is to be understood that the combination of the knife folding mechanism, the deflector and the loop folding mechanisms for securing either book or news imposition may be, receded or followed by other folding mec anis'ms,-,wheth'er knife or loop.-

What is claimedis:

1. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, a knife folder receiving the sheets therefrom, two loop folding mechanisms adapted selectively to receive the sheets from said knife folder, and a deflector for directing the sheets to one or the other of said last mentioned loo folding mechanisms.

2. In a folding machine, the combination of a' loop folding mechanism, a knife folder receiving the sheets therefrom, a plurality of loop folding mechanisms, and a deflector adapted selectiv'elyto direct the sheets into said mechanisms to produce news or book imposition. v

3. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, a knife folder receiving the sheets therefrom, two folding mechanisms adapted selectively to receive the sheets from said knife folder, and a deflector for directing the sheets to one or the other of said last mentioned folding mechanisms.

4. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop foldin mechanism, a knife folder receiving the s eets therefrom, two loop folding mechanisms, adapted selectively to receive the sheets from said knife folder, a packer adapted to receive the sheets from the knife folder or either one of the last mentioned loop folding mechanisms, and a deflector adapted selectively to deliver the sheets from the knife folder-to either one of the last mentioned loop folding mechanisms, or allow the sheets'to drop directly to the packer. I I

5. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, a knife folder receiving sheets therefrom, a plurality of loop folding mechanisms, a packer adapted'to receive sheets from the knife folder or the last mentioned loop folding mechanisms, and a deflector adapted selectively to deliver the sheets from the knife 'folderto the loop folding mechanisms for'imparting book or news imposition.

6. In a folding machine the combination.

of a feed table, a knife folder arranged beneath the same, means for delivering sheets from the feed table to the knife folder, :1.

plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, and a deflector adjustably positioned to deliversheets from said knife folder to one or the other of said mech'anisms, or allow the sheets to drop between said mechanisms.

7. In a folding machine,the combination of a feed table, a knife folder arranged beneath the same, means for delivering sheets from the feed table to thekni-fe folder, said feed table being hinged at one end to allow access to said knife folder, a plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, and a deflector adjustably positioned to deliver sheets fromsaid knife folder to one or the other of said mechanisms, or allow the sheets to drop between said mechanisms.

8. In a folding machine, the combination nisms, and apacker arranged to receive the sheets from both of said mechanisms and also the sheets traversing the third path between said mechanisms.

. 9. In a folding machine, the combination of a feed table, a knife folder arranged beneath the same, means for delivering sheets from the feedtable to the knife folder, a

plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, a deflector adjustably positioned to deliver sheets from said knife folder to one or the other of said mechanisms, or in a third path between said mechanisms, and a packer arranged to receive the sheets from both of said mechanisms and also the sheets traversing the third path between said mechanisms, said mechanisms bein sym metrically arranged with respect to sai knife folder, and said packer being symmetrically positioned with respectto said mechanisms.

10. In a folding machine, the combination of a feed table, a knife folder arranged beneath the table, means, includinga folding device, for delivering sheets from said table to said knife folder, a plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, and a deflector adjustably positioned to deliver the sheets from said knife folder to one orthe other of said mechanisms, or

in a third path between said mechanisms.

11.. In afolding machine, the combination -to said knife folder, a lurality of folding mechanisms arranged eneath the 'knife folder, a deflector adjustably positioned to deliver the sheets from said knife folder to one or the other of said mechanisms, or in a third path between said mechanisms, and a packer arranged to receive the sheets from both of said mechanisms, and also thesheets traversing the third path between said mechanisms. a

12. In a folding machine, the combination of a feed table, a knife folder arranged beneath the same, said feed tablebeing hinged at its forward end to allow accessto said knife folder, means, including a folding device, fordelivering sheets from said table to said knife folder, a plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, a deflector adjustably positionedto deliver the sheets from said knife folder to one or the other of said mechanisms, or in a third path between said mechanisms, and a packer arranged to receive the sheets from both of said mechanisms, and also the sheets traversing the third path between said mechanisms.

13. In a folding machine, the combination of a feed table, a knife folder arranged be neath the same,'mea'ns, including a folding device, for delivering sheets from said table to said'knife folder, a plurality of folding mechanisms arranged beneath the knife folder, a deflector adjustably positioned to deliver the sheets from said knife folder to one or the other of said mechanisms, or in a third path between said mechanisms, and a packer arranged .to receive the" sheets from both of said mechanism-s, and also'the sheets traversing the. third path between said mechanisms, said mechanisms being symmetrically arranged with respect to said knifefolder, I and said packer being symmetrically positioned with respect to saidmechanisms.

14. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, two succeeding folding mechanisms, one of folding mechanism adapted to produce a fold parallel to said first loop mechanism, the

other a knife folder producing a fold at a right angle to that imparted by the first fold mechanism, and a deflector adapted selecceive sheets delivered direct from the first mentioned mechanism, and also from the succeeding parallel mechanism.

18. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, a folding mechanism to which sheets pass therefrom by a movement wholly normal to the rolls of the loop mechanism, and whereby they are folded at a right angle to the fold imparted by said loop mechanism, two succeeding folding mechanisms, each parallel to said right angle fold, and a deflector whereby to direct the sheets to one or the other of said parallel fold mechanisms. JOHN MENTGES.

which isa loop tively to direct sheets from.the first menu succeeding mechanisms, or in a third direction between saidmechamsms.

16. In a folding machine, the combination of a loop folding mechanism, two succeeding folding mechanisms, one of which is a loop folding mechanism adapted to produce a fold parallel to said first loop mechanism, the other a knife folder producing a fold at a right angle to that imparted by the first fold mechanism, a deflector adapted selectivelyto direct. the sheets from the first mentioned mechanism to either of the succeeding'mechanisms, or in a' third directionbetween said mechanisms, and a packer positioned to rementioned mechanism, and also from the succeeding parallel mechanism.

' 17 In a folding machine, the combination of a folding mechanism, two succeeding folding mechanisms,-one of which produces a fold parallel to the first,the other a fold at a right angle to the first, a deflector adapted selectively to direct sheets from the first mentioned mechanism to either of the succeeding mechanisms, or in aflthird'direction between said ceive sheets delivereddirect from the first mechanisms, and a packer positioned to re- 1 adapted to impart a fold 

